After firing Matt Eberflus following a disappointing 2025 season, the Dallas Cowboys entered the second stage of their defensive coordinator hunt. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has already spoken with nine candidates, emphasizing youth and experience on the defensive backfield. The oldest prospect, Jeff Ulbrich, is 48; the youngest, Zach Orr, is 33.

The shortlist includes Daronte Jones of the Vikings, Christian Parker and Jonathan Gannon from the Eagles, and former linebackers‑turned‑coaches Charlie Bullen and Demarcus Covington. Defensive line specialists Ephraim Banda and Aaron Whitecotton also feature, reflecting Schottenheimer’s belief that front‑seven insight matters more than age alone.

With the Cowboys holding first‑round picks at 12 and 20, they hope to emulate the 2005 draft that yielded Hall‑of‑Famer DeMarcus Ware and a dominant defensive line. A timely hire could shape those selections, while rival NFC East teams also reshuffle staffs, making Dallas’s decision a key factor in the division’s upcoming power balance.